Melting and working copper

[cavscout]

Thanks guys! At least no one said it's "not gonna happen" . From what I've seen on youtube, it appears copper doesn't stay in liquid form for very long after being removed from the heat. Is that the case? I know it retains heat very long but how long will my work time be whether I hammer or cast it?

[tyger]

how long will my work time be whether I hammer or cast it?

Like Johnny Cash said: "You gotta be faster than kiss a duck!"

I am not a caster, but you just don't have much time at all. A few seconds.

Silver, gold, and pewter have relatively long pot times. That is why you see a lot of goods cast from those metals, and not much cast brass (copper/zinc), or cast copper.

Bronze is much better medium for casting because it is a tin/copper alloy. Steve, you could add tin to your copper and make bronze, and cast that, but be careful, and use ventilation.